Who doesn’t love a good DIY project? Not only can you get that awesome sense of accomplishment, but you’re probably also saving a few bucks by avoiding having to call in an expert. Plumbing is no different. While we are always there to help you out when needed, we have to admit that we’re always supportive of those looking to employ their own handyman genes. However, there’s a couple things to keep in mind on this topic. As opposed to other projects around the house, if you try to fix a plumbing problem and do so incorrectly, the result can make a bad situation worse. Having seen these failed efforts more than a handful of times, we decided it would make sense to construct a quick guide of when you should be calling your expert Kansas City, Parkville or Gladstone plumber!
? Water Pressure?
Water pressure errors can arise from a couple different culprits. If you notice something is off, we recommend first reaching out to either your water supply company or the city. It isn’t uncommon for them to struggle with an exterior event that’s affecting other homeowners in addition to you. One of the most common events would be a water main break. Speaking from experience, I actually remember this exact same thing occurring back in April when there was a water main break up near Barry Road in Kansas City. Take a peek at this pic from our Facebook page. After seeing that, it’s probably a little bit easier to understand the wide spread effects of a water main break!
Now…if you call the water company and they tell you that there’s nothing wrong on their end, then you’ll need to look elsewhere. Anything revolving water pressure forces us to highly recommend you to call in an expert. Trust me, it’s not worth messing around with. You can easily turn a quick fix into a plumbing nightmare in minutes! Chances are this water pressure is being caused by a blockage in your plumbing or a leak arising from a cracked pipe. For both cases, get someone in there that’s been around plumbing more than a handful of times.
? Strange Smell?
Notice a weird smell arising from somewhere in your house? More than likely what you have is some sewage backup. It’s definitely not one of the prettiest of sights for a plumber, but it’s certainly something we run into. Sewage backup can’t be procrastinated either. If you notice anything, get a plumber out there right away. At the same time, if you have any puddles of water, avoid making contact with them at all costs. You never know if this water has any toxic materials and it’s always best to proceed with caution.
? Out of Hot Water?
If you’ve read any of our previous blog posts, you’ve probably recognized the importance of your hot water heater. Due to the fact that nearly everyone takes hot water for granted nowadays, it can be incredibly annoying when you wake up one day and there’s no hot water. When this happens, all of your problems are usually connected to the hot water heater. However, diagnosing the exact problematic area isn’t as easy. The failure can either require a complete replacement of the machine, swapping out a defect component, or sometimes just giving it a good flush. Nonetheless, working with various components can potentially result in injury to the homeowner or even damage to the house. Unless you’re trying to just flush it (which we have a DIY blog linked below), give your local Gladstone plumber a call to get it fixed up.
❄️ Bursting Pipes?
This is actually more of a winter plumbing failure, bit is nonetheless important to keep in mind. In a nutshell, this is caused when frozen water in the line expands, thus causing the line to break. Believe it or not, locating these bursted pipes can be much tougher to locate than you’d think. It can be on pipes under the ground, in the walls and so on. Chances are you won’t notice it until something major happens, such as major flooding, which can take a serious financial toll on the homeowner. An experienced plumber will possess the tools necessary to accurately locate where the break is and get the necessary water abatement process going right away. Depending on how long the leak has been active, this can include recommending repairs to the drywall, flooring and so on.
❓ Either-Or’s
The four areas listed above are ones that we always recommend letting a plumber near you take care of. Additionally, in the next section, I’ve provided a few links to recent “How-To” articles our team has put out. While these aren’t the easiest of jobs, they are for-sure doable, even with minimal plumbing experience. However, we’ve received a handful of other messages recently wondering if particular problems are something the average homeowner can realistically take care of. The biggest concern they’ve stressed to us is the last thing they want to do is turn an average sized repair into a full-scale project. If this is a concern, you’re probably best off to just bring a plumbing expert. It’ll minimize the chances of this becoming an even bigger headache and probably save you a few bucks.
Despite this, I thought it would be helpful to share with you some of the questions our team has been receiving. Appliance Installations: certainly something we get plenty of calls for each and every year is installing various bathroom and kitchen fixtures. My best piece of advice is unless you have previously installed something like a sink, it’s most likely best to call in an expert. The main reason behind this is the common difficulty in troubleshooting why something isn’t working perfectly. Running Toilet: Be sure to check out our DIY guide below, but this something we get all the time. Familiarize yourself with the inner workings of a toilet and your golden for a quick evaluation. More often than not, this knowledge will allow you to diagnose a faulty part.
?️ What Can I DIY?
We’re not trying to hate on those weekend warriors that like to DIY projects around the house! Rather, we just want to ensure your safety isn’t put at risk trying to detect a leaking pipe. Plus, more often than not, this approach will save you a few bucks! That doesn’t mean we don’t have any words of wisdom though for our DIY experts. Over the recent months, we’ve walked through some various tutorials and will continue to do so in future blog posts. Here’s a handful that our readers found most helpful:
?Fix a Jammed Garbage Disposal
?Learn to Flush Your Water Heater
Stay tuned for more articles in the future breaking down how you can gain some plumbing experience and fix a few things around the house in the process!
✌️We’re always here to help.
For all of our friends in Gladstone, Liberty, Parkville, North Kansas City and throughout Johnson County, we’re always ready to go in a moment’s notice. Whether it’s something small that needs knocked out in a hurry or a bigger plumbing project, don’t hesitate to reach out. Time isn’t always a luxury you have with plumbing failures, so reach out to your local Gladstone plumbing pros today for all your plumbing needs!